Isla San Lucas was a penal colony until
1991. It had the reputation of being the roughest jail in Costa Rica
and its 117 year history is rich with tales of violence. A network of
underground prison cells hosted society's undesirables who ran the
community, fished, farmed and did domestic chores. Today the prison
walls are crumbling in ruins and a lonely caretaker might let you go
around on the island.